Do you use TTS (text to speech)?

General discussion about learning languages

Do you use TTS (text to speech)?

Yes
7
25%
Sometimes
7
25%
Not willingly
6
21%
Native recordings, or bust
8
29%
 
Total votes: 28

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Xenops
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Do you use TTS (text to speech)?

Postby Xenops » Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:04 am

Today I've looked into maybe adding a TTS add-on to Anki rather than manually putting in audio recordings, and I wondered: do people use TTS more than I think they do?

I've also wondered: is it language dependent?
Last edited by Xenops on Sun Sep 18, 2022 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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desafiar
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby desafiar » Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:28 am

I use TTS for all of my Spanish Anki cards and find it beneficial.

All TTS is not equal in quality. I've searched around and found one that I'm very satisfied with and feel it's been helpful for checking my understanding of a certain words pronunciation, or just playing entire cards. Five years ago, I may not have been as enthusiastic about TTS, but it is evolving nicely, at least for Spanish.
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby Beli Tsar » Sun Sep 18, 2022 5:42 am

Xenops wrote:I've also wondered: is it language dependent?

Certainly, though improving amazingly rapidly.

Four years ago, I couldn't use it for Farsi; now it's pretty good. That's impressive, for an ABJAD.

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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby jeff_lindqvist » Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:20 am

Xenops wrote:Today I've looked into maybe adding a TTS add-on to Anki rather than manually putting in audio recordings, and I wondered: do people use TTS more than I think they do?

I've also wondered: is it language dependent?


I did before, but not anymore (voted "sometimes"). I had AwesomeTTS installed for some of my decks in Anki, but software issues directed me to the web-based interface a few years ago, and then I got another computer and so on... For Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese it was pretty OK. Still not as good as a native speaker, but better than nothing.
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby rdearman » Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:29 am

Technically speaking, it is Text-to-Speech, not sound. :ugeek:

Depending on the interface, it is very good. I stopped using the anki TTS because it sounds too mechanical. But you can get some very decent TTS by using the OpenTTS engine.

I installed the docker version, and it works a treat for Korean. I also use the AWS Polly engine for Korean, but since I get charged for using it I prefer the free one. Polly is only a few pennies, but I'm cheap. :)

I used the OpenTTS is conjunction with the Gradint tool to create a custom Pimsleur like MP3 set for myself.

EDIT: One other use I have, which I had forgotten when I posted this is FBReader which used to be opensource, but is now closed source but free to use. Anyway it has a TTS engine and sometimes I have it read the book to me, instant audiobook.
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby dlt529 » Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:38 am

I use the AwesomeTTS add on with a Forvo API. it costs 5$/year, I think, and let’s you insert forvo audios right from the add card screen. If a forvo audio is not available, I’ll use TTS to add one, usually with the google voices.

Forvo audios are my preferred, the TTS ones are… fine, as long as there aren’t too many.
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby Odair » Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:43 am

I don't use TTS because as a learner I cannot know when the engine has made a mistake that would cause me to mis-learn a word, I don't want those mistakes to be imprinted to my memory.
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to sound)?

Postby bolaobo » Sun Sep 18, 2022 12:10 pm

Yes, I use it when native audio isn't available.

It may not sound 100% natural, but Azure and Google Cloud (not Google Translate) are very good these days, and it has helped me immensely to remember words and improve my listening.
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to speech)?

Postby desafiar » Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:36 pm

If you're using macOS or iOS, no third party add-ons are necessary for TTS (unless you prefer them). When I was looking at some that were available, I found none that I liked better than ones I already had available.

In your card template, just put the TTS command as needed.

Show all voices:
{{tts-voices:}}

To add a specific voice with a play on demand button in a basic front card template:
{{Front}}
<br>
{{tts es_MX voices=Apple_Angelica:Front}}

For older OS versions, enhanced voices may need to be specified:
{{Front}}
<br>
{{tts es_MX voices=Apple_Angelica(Enhanced):Front}}
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Re: Do you use TTS (text to speech)?

Postby Kraut » Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:50 pm

Edge Browser has all major Spanish accents, about 20 each male and female, already inbuilt.
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